Residential care facilities for the elderly: placement agencies.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of residential care facilities for the elderly by the State Department of Social Services. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for a placement agency, as defined, to place an individual in a licensed residential care facility for the elderly when the individual, because of a health condition, cannot be cared for within the limits of the license or requires inpatient care in a health facility. This bill would also make it a misdemeanor for an employee of a placement agency to place an individual in a licensed residential care facility for the elderly when the individual, because of a health condition, cannot be cared for within the limits of the license or requires inpatient care in a health facility. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.